Photo: Flaming Ferrari, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
The 4-day plan, rearranged for 3 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A twelfth century monastery left partly as the forest found it, with huge trees growing over the towers and walls. Go early, because the most photographed doorways fill up. Paths are uneven and stones can be loose.
Go when Early morning, to see the trees before the crowds.
Local tip Stay on the marked paths and do not climb on the walls or roots. Children and sellers may call out: a smile and "no thank you" is a kind and complete answer.
The temple at the center of Angkor Thom, with towers carved with great smiling faces, built at the end of the twelfth century. The outer galleries show battles and scenes of daily life. Come after the midday rest, when the heat eases.
Go when Mid to late afternoon, once you have rested and the heat has eased.
Local tip Look at the faces from a few places, near and far, because they change. Walk the outer gallery for the scenes of boats, markets and battles. Mind the steps, which are worn and uneven.
Fish steamed in a banana leaf with coconut milk and a paste of lemongrass, galangal and turmeric, soft and mild, with rice. Cambodia's best known dish, and an easy lunch in the heat.
Local tip It is made with fish and coconut, so tell the staff about any allergy before you order. Ask for it mild if you prefer.
A twelfth century temple city with long, straight corridors, gateways and carved doorways, some held up by tree roots. It is a walk from one end to the other, so take it slowly and carry water.
Go when Afternoon, as the light softens in the corridors.
Local tip Walk it from one gate to the other along the straight corridors and carry water. The stones are uneven, so watch your step and keep to the paths.
An eleventh century temple mountain just north of the Bayon, reached by a long raised walkway. It was taken apart stone by stone and rebuilt over many years. The stairs are steep, and the climb is worth it only if you feel steady.
Go when Afternoon, right after the Bayon.
Local tip The walkway to the temple is long and open, so carry water and a hat. The steps up are steep, and a look from below is enough if they worry you.
A small shrine on a round island in a square pool, once part of a larger system of water ponds. The pools can be low or dry in the dry months, so check ahead. A short stop, and a quiet one.
Go when Late afternoon, as the last stop of the day.
Local tip A short walk leads to the island shrine. The pools can be low or dry in the dry months, so do not count on water, and check ahead.
Whole fish grilled over charcoal, served with rice and a tart salad of green mango, herbs and dried shrimp. A relaxed dinner in town after a day of temples.
Local tip The salad is made with fish sauce and dried shrimp, so tell the staff about any allergy first.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The largest temple of the Khmer Empire, built in the twelfth century and ringed by a wide moat. A long stone causeway leads to five towers and galleries of carved scenes. Go early: it is cooler, and the causeway is quieter before the tour groups.
Go when First thing in the morning, before the heat and the tour groups.
Local tip Cover your shoulders and knees. Walk the galleries of carved scenes slowly and take the upper stairs only if you feel steady, as they are steep. Children and sellers may ask you to buy: a smile and a calm "no thank you" is enough.
A large Buddhist monastery of the late twelfth century with long galleries and gateways, often much quieter than Ta Prohm across the road. A calm place to slow the day down.
Go when Midday, when the corridors are shady and quieter.
Local tip Walk the long line of gateways and galleries at an easy pace. Across the road is the pool of Srah Srang, which suits a short rest.
A mild, fragrant curry of chicken or fish with coconut milk, lemongrass and potato, eaten with rice or a baguette. Less hot than a Thai curry, and a comfortable lunch after a morning of temples.
Local tip Ask how spicy it is before you order, and tell the staff about any allergy first.
A museum of the Khmer story in Siem Reap, with galleries on Angkor, the Hindu and Buddhist faiths and a hall of Buddha images. A good, shaded place for the middle of the day, and a way to see the temples in context.
Go when Midday, as a rest from the heat.
Local tip Go before or after the temples and let it tell the story in order: the faiths, the kings and the carving. Pick a few galleries rather than every one.
A temple on a hilltop between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, from the end of the ninth century, with a view over the forest and the towers of Angkor Wat. The hill is a popular place to watch the sun go down, and it gets crowded. The climb is on a worn path and steps.
Go when Around sunset, or go earlier when it is quieter.
Local tip The hill gets crowded for the sunset, and numbers at the top may be limited, so check ahead and go early to claim a place. Keep a torch or a phone light for the walk down.
Cubes of beef stir fried quickly in a peppery sauce and served on lettuce and tomato with rice and a dip of lime and pepper. A well loved Khmer dinner.
Local tip Say if you want less pepper, and tell the staff about any allergy first, since the sauce has several ingredients.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A river that runs over its sandstone bed, carved long ago with figures and rows of lingas. A forest path climbs to it, and the walk is uphill and uneven, so go early while it is cooler. Check ahead that the path is open and what the water is doing.
Go when Early morning, so the walk uphill is in the cool.
Local tip Wear shoes with grip and carry water, as the path is uphill and uneven. Cambodia still has unexploded mines in some countryside, so stay on the marked path and do not wander off it. Check ahead that the path is open.
A small tenth century temple of pink sandstone, famous for its deep, fine carving of gods and leaves. It is small, so a short visit is plenty, and it is best before the tour buses arrive.
Go when Late morning, or earlier if you can, before the tour buses.
Local tip Look closely at the carving on the doorways and the walls: the detail is the whole point. The temple is small, so a short visit is plenty.
Noodles fried with vegetables and egg or meat, from the simple restaurants and stalls near the temple. A filling, plain lunch on a long road day.
Local tip Ask for it without egg or meat if you prefer, and tell the staff about any allergy before you order.
A small museum near Banteay Srei about the landmines and unexploded bombs left by the wars, and the work to clear them. A serious place that explains why the paths in the countryside matter.
Go when Afternoon, on the way back toward town.
Local tip Take it at your own pace. It is a good reminder to stay on marked paths in the countryside and never to pick up or touch anything unfamiliar.
A clear, tangy soup of fish or chicken with tamarind, pineapple, herbs and vegetables, served with rice. Light and refreshing after a hot, long day.
Local tip Tell the staff about any allergy before you order, since the base stock can contain fish.
It covers 3 days in Siem Reap, planned for november to February. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 13.5 to 18.5 kilometers between its stops, and 50.1 kilometers in all across 3 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
11 days in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the islandsAbout 470 km away
6 days in Hoi An and Da NangAbout 550 km awayMake it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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